Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Consisting of diatoms or their skeletons.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In botany, belonging to or resembling Diatomacæ.
  • Containing or made up of diatoms: as, diatomaceous earth. See infusorial earth, under infusorial.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective consisting of or containing diatoms or their fossils.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of, pertaining to, or containing diatoms or their coverings.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From diatom +‎ -aceous.

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Examples

  • Such layers, or beds, of diatoms are called diatomaceous earth, or diatomite.

    Diatomite 2008

  • Another product is a dust made of crushed fossils called diatomaceous earth that can be sprinkled on floors.

    Reuters: Press Release 2011

  • Another product is a dust made of crushed fossils called diatomaceous earth that can be sprinkled on floors.

    Reuters: Press Release 2011

  • Industrial steam, vacuuming and abrasives such as diatomaceous earth are some of the methods used for removing and controlling bedbugs.

    IU News: Arts and Humanities 2009

  • Industrial steam, vacuuming and abrasives such as diatomaceous earth are some of the methods used for removing and controlling bedbugs.

    IU News: Arts and Humanities 2009

  • This filtering, aka fining, is typically performed with fish-bladder isinglass or egg whites, although some companies now choose vegan alternatives such as bentonite clay, silica gel, diatomaceous earth and Irish moss, a seaweed product also known as carrageenan.

    Anneli Rufus: Are Animals in Your Cocktail? Anneli Rufus 2011

  • I've used soapy water, ProTek, a citrus extract that repels insects, and diatomaceous earth applied while the foliage is wet.

    Seeking a tomato guru 2010

  • Dust your plants and surrounding soil with diatomaceous earth.

    50 Ways to Kill a Slug « Sugar Creek Gardens’ Blog 2009

  • This filtering, aka fining, is typically performed with fish-bladder isinglass or egg whites, although some companies now choose vegan alternatives such as bentonite clay, silica gel, diatomaceous earth and Irish moss, a seaweed product also known as carrageenan.

    Anneli Rufus: Are Animals in Your Cocktail? Anneli Rufus 2011

  • This filtering, aka fining, is typically performed with fish-bladder isinglass or egg whites, although some companies now choose vegan alternatives such as bentonite clay, silica gel, diatomaceous earth and Irish moss, a seaweed product also known as carrageenan.

    Anneli Rufus: Are Animals in Your Cocktail? Anneli Rufus 2011

Comments

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  • Good gracious! This dirt is diatomaceous!

    June 15, 2007